Hypnomys, otherwise known as Balearic giant dormice, is an extinct genus of dormouse (Gliridae) in the subfamily Leithiinae.[1] Its species are considered examples of insular gigantism.[2] They were endemic to the Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean from the Early Pliocene until their extinction around 4,000 years ago. They first appeared in the fossil record on Mallorca during the Early Pliocene, presumably due to the Messinian salinity crisis causing a connection with mainland Europe. They later spread to Menorca, and a possible molar is also known from Ibiza.[3]Hypnomys became extinct during the Holocene after human arrival on the Balearics. They were one of only three native land mammals to the islands at the time of human arrival, alongside the shrew Nesiotites and goat-antelope Myotragus.
^Bover, Pere; Alcover, Josep A.; Michaux, Jacques J.; Hautier, Lionel; Hutterer, Rainer (2010-12-31). "Body Shape and Life Style of the Extinct Balearic Dormouse Hypnomys (Rodentia, Gliridae): New Evidence from the Study of Associated Skeletons". PLOS ONE. 5 (12): e15817. Bibcode:2010PLoSO...515817B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0015817. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3013122. PMID 21209820.
^Orlandi-Oliveras, Guillem; Jordana, Xavier; Moncunill-Solé, Blanca; Köhler, Meike (2016-01-01). "Bone histology of the giant fossil dormouse Hypnomys onicensis (Gliridae, Rodentia) from Balearic Islands". Comptes Rendus Palevol. Current advances in paleohistology: A tribute to a generation of Frenchpaleohistologists. 15 (1–2): 238–244. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2015.05.001.
^Agustí, Jordi; Espresate, Juli; Piñero, Pedro (2020-12-13). "Dental Variation in the Endemic Dormouse Hypnomys Bate 1918 and its Implications for the Palaeogeographic Evolution of the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) during the late Neogene-Quaternary". Historical Biology. 33 (12): 3152–3165. doi:10.1080/08912963.2020.1852557. ISSN 0891-2963. S2CID 230583559.
Hypnomys, describing two species, H. morpheus on Mallorca, and H. mahonensis on Menorca. Mitochondrial DNA from H. morpheus indicates that Hypnomys is...
Balearic Islands were the dwarf goat-antelope Myotragus, the giant dormouse Hypnomys, and the shrew Nesiotites hidalgo which were found on Mallorca and Menorca...
Mallorca, the dwarf goat-antelope Myotragus balearicus, the giant dormouse Hypnomys morpheus, and the shrew Nesiotites hidalgo, all three of which had been...
three genera of mammal present on Mallorca, alongside the giant dormouse Hypnomys and the shrew Nesiotites, all of which would continue to be present on...
lineages native to the Balearic islands, alongside the giant dormouse Hypnomys and the dwarf goat-antelope Myotragus. The last Nesiotites chronospecies...
Common name Scientific name Range Comments Pictures Majorcan giant dormouse Hypnomys morpheus Gymnesian Islands, Spain Most recent remains at Escorca, Mallorca...
(comprising the goat-antelope Myotragus, the shrew Nesiotites and the dormouse Hypnomys) due to the islands being connected during low sea level episodes as a...
S. Teodoro Pianetti” faunal complex. List of extinct animals of Europe Hypnomys a genus of giant dormice known from the Balearic Islands Lydekker, Richard...
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